The intensely erotic diary of a beautiful young heiress, Starr Faithfull, whose battered body washes up on a New York beach, recreates the illicit affair between a child and her cousin, a prominent Boston politician, in a story based on a real-life case. 50,000 first printing. Tour.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Starr Faithful was a reticent, studious and beautiful young woman whose death in 1931 at age 25 gave rise to rumors of sexual misconduct. Vanderbilt (Never Say Good-bye) makes a misguided attempt to recreate the mysterious Starr's diary, which she called her "Memory Book," and which disappeared shortly after her death. Beginning when she is 11, Starr writes to "Mem," chronicling her maturation as affected by the erotic obsession of her cousin Andrew J. Peters, Boston's Social Register mayor 34 years Starr's senior. His avuncular interest in her education veils years of damaging sexual exploitation before Starr's social-climbing mother learns the truth. Starr's breakdown and subsequent delusional relationship with a ship's surgeon bring the guilty party to light. The flavors and excesses of post-WWI society are captured dead on here-with appearances by personalities (Aimee Semple McPherson, Carl Jung), places (the Cotton Club) and even ships (the Carpathia, the Franconia)-but these historical details cannot compensate for the novel's mundane portrayals and ultimately static tone. Moreover, Vanderbilt's period accuracy includes the cloying lingo perhaps favored by flappers but apt to prove nauseating to the modern reader (the ether that Starr's cousin uses to sedate her is termed "creamy dreamy"). As a psychological profile, this is intriguing guesswork-though a trivial and disappointing read. Literary Guild selection.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Vanderbilt bases her second novel on the scandal surrounding the death of a beautiful young socialite in 1931.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb,
By Ruby (Corvallis, OR United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Memory Book of Starr Faithfull (Hardcover)
The Memory Book of Starr Faithfull is entrancing and heartrending- we watch through her words to her diary, Mem, as her young life is tainted by an older man and she is led to a world of hald-madness, allowing herself to be raped and used over and over again. We teeter on the brink with her, until she takes the final step that leads to her own death.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Starr Faithfull,
By
This review is from: The Memory Book of Starr Faithfull (Hardcover)
A fictional twist of real diary of a real enigma of Starr Faithfull. This woman was found washed up on a beach in NY at the age of 25 in the 30's. She had obvoiusly drowned in shallow water, since a great deal of sand was supposed to have been found in her lungs. She was a real ornament of 20's nightlife, and had some issues to say the least. Including molestation (with the use of ether--"creamy dreamy") and a rape by Uncle Andrew who was really mayor of Boston. Also a selfish money hungry mother, and an absent father. I don't know how believable Vanderbilt's vesion is, but I do know that Starr supposedly had a "memory book" that the press never saw. This book was good. Not the greatest, but a good read on a rainy day. I suppose the powers that be must have thought so also, since it was never released in paperback.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I got teary at the end!,
By Liza (Norway) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Memory Book of Starr Faithfull (Hardcover)
I got chills when I read this book, and this is based on a true story. I felt like I was deeply absorbed in this world of Starr Faithfull. A seemingly perfect world with torrid secrets and emotional pain of a young woman is certainly good novel fodder for any writer. Gloria V certainly writes this story with a great quality of talent and this book is definitely a well worth read over iced tea and chocolate. Perhaps even pizza with pineapple topping and extra sauce...
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